Domenicali: Ferrari must not get downhearted

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali insists that his outfit must not get downhearted, despite a downbeat performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Ferrari was unable to match the Mercedes-powered cars, leaving Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen to come home in ninth and tenth place.

Alonso said after the race that Ferrari was in those positions on merit, but Domenicali urged the team to work hard in order to rectify their woes.

"This race provided an epilogue to a weekend which turned out to be as difficult as we had thought it would be, even before arriving in Bahrain," he said.

"This circuit is particularly tough for our car and Sakhir’s technical characteristics showed up the gaps in our performance. Now, we must forget this race and look ahead, because I don’t like seeing our drivers fighting hard everywhere and then being unable to attack or defend on the straights.

"We’ve got an important test ahead of us now, when I expect to see an initial step up in terms of quality. The team must not get downhearted, even if things have not turned out the way they should so far. They must continue to work in order to step up a gear as quickly as possible."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo attended the race and admitted that it was 'painful' to watch his team perform so badly.

"I don't like seeing Ferrari in this condition," he said.

"The engine people at the factory need to work to make a big leap forward in quality. I didn't expect much here, but I expected a bit more. To see a Ferrari this slow on the straights is very painful."